'Recognized by its Fruit'

How well do you consider your words before saying them, or actions before taking them? I recently had the opportunity to sit and listen to a conversation between high school girls. As I sat listening, it brought back so many memories from that same period of time in my life.  I had stored up a lot of bad things in my heart due to words or actions that were taken or said against me. I held them in until they built up and overflowed out of me.  I remember having jealousy, discord and feelings of hatred often.  It seemed like sometimes I was in a battle for my life with a lot of the people I was surrounded by and too many times my words or actions were the only sword I had. So rather than sowing words of encouragement, I swung my sword and slashed and slit others that were nearby.  Bringing forth not life in them or myself, but rather taking it away.  While trying to somehow prove myself good or better by discounting or wounding those around me, I in fact did just the opposite. The very words of my mouth and/or actions that I took were the proof.  They were the fruit of my tree.  I can only say that I am sorry for the past, but humbled and ever thankful after watching those girls converse the other day. It was like looking into a faded mirror.  I remembered who that I once was and was glad to be able to think that my fruit is looking better these days. I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be.  But now I use Christ as my mirror and try to walk away from Him remembering what I should look like when others see me.  I want to be a good tree, I want to produce good life giving actions and words.  I want my heart to be full of the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) so that the things that my mouth speaks will not create bad fruit in someone else's life.  I want to consider that my words/actions are not only fruit that will be ingested and taken to heart by the hearer, but they are also seeds that have the potential to grow in someone else's life. So if I'm going to sow seeds into someone else, Lord let them be full of goodness!
matthew 12:33“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

'Recognized by its Fruit'
16x16 textured acrylic on wood